We are beyond excited to feature Laura Thornhill Caswell, female skateboarding pioneer, as Skater of the Week for Kateboards. The title should really be “Skater of the past 4+ decades” with the amount she has contributed to the progression of females in skateboarding since the 70s.
We are seeing a surge in the amount of women getting involved in skateboarding + taking it to the next level. WIth this rise it is so important to also pay tribute to the pioneers, the ones who paved the path for us all. And, Laura is, without a doubt, a skateboarding pioneer.
Laura’s extensive involvement in skateboarding along with her incredibly supportive, bold, humble, and kind nature are just a few reasons why we respect and love her. Read the full interview below to learn more about this extraordinary woman and get ready to be inspired. She is a (s)hero and a guide for us all. So grateful to call this woman a friend. We look up to you and appreciate everything you have done, Laura!
Can you give us some background on who you are?
I grew up in Dallas Texas and was the consummate tomboy that did every team sport there was…and then discovered the love and wonder for the Skateboard the year before moving to Southern California in 1974.
I got my first skateboard for my thirteenth birthday and was quickly on a mission to become the best that I could be in a lifestyle that was pretty much dominated by guys.
I was soon recruited to be on the Logan Earth Ski Skateboard Team that was regarded as one of the top three in 1975.
I remain very active in the Skateboarding world and co-produce the Skateboarding Hall Of Fame Awards and I am always there to root on the female rippers of today at all the different contests and events that are so popular today.
When did you start skateboarding and what drew you to it? What was your first board?
The very first time I saw a skateboard I was drawn to it like a magnet and there was no keeping off me off of it… I was a tomboy of the highest order and anything that had anything to do with sports was my jam! My very first skateboard was a Black Knight.
You used to come to Encinitas a lot to skate - where would you go?
We would skate out at La Costa at Black Hill regularly...and at the Escondido Reservoir, which was my favorite place to skate & was one of the most coveted skate spots of all time before it was eventually demolished!
We regularly skated Carlsbad Skatepark, which was the very first skateboard park ever built and all the other parks that started being built in SD.
Also any local empty pools that were known to us as well as Ramps that were being built at the time…there was actually a very cool one that was in Leucadia that was near the Logan Earth Ski Headquarters House, which was ground zero to some of the best & most iconic skaters on the planet at the time.
We would also go downtown at night and skate the concourse parking lot that was a multi level parking structure that corkscrewed down many levels that was a blast!
Can you describe what it was like to be a sponsored female skateboarder in the 70s in Southern California?
It was an amazing time in the pioneering days of Skateboarding & was truly a dream come true for me as all I wanted to do was ride my skateboard and practice and learn new tricks and try to become the best Skateboarder that I could possibly be… To find myself on one of the top three teams of the day and to be sponsored and having the honor of being the first female that was featured with a “Who’s Hot” in Skateboarder Magazine and then to become a World Champion and have the very first female signature model & having so many ridiculously cool things happening daily, was beyond amazing!
What advice would you give girls + women who want to start skateboarding, but are feeling nervous or intimidated?
Never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something and always be brave and bold and follow your instincts…just go out and do it and tap into Your desire to be one with your board…you can’t go wrong if you do it with heart and soul and don’t care what anyone else thinks!
Who was your biggest influence while you were skateboarding growing up?
Torger Johnson was absolutely my favorite Skater and a huge influence on me…not only was he my beloved teammate, but also someone I had great respect for as the unique individual and human being he was…he was a beautiful Skater and had this stunning fluid style that I was forever trying to emulate... I was also highly influenced by the Surfing style of Gerry Lopez.
What are your thoughts on the progression of females in skateboarding and female representation in skateboarding?
I am beyond proud of the Women & Girls and all that they continue to achieve and love the prowess and unique and amazing styles that each one of them skates with…the fact that so many of them are so crazy talented and are athletically on equal ground with the male skaters of today makes me beam with pride as a fellow sister skater! I truly couldn’t be more excited for the entire global female skate community and all that they are accomplishing!
When were you inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and what is your involvement with it now?
I was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2013 and have been co-producing the SHOF Awards event for the past six years.
What are some of your interests and passions outside of skateboarding?
Beyond skateboarding, I absolutely love snowboarding as it’s one of my favorite things on the planet to do! I am also a dedicated Mountain Biker and Road Cyclist and was actually racing Mountain bikes back in the 90s… I’m also into hiking and trail running and Mat surfing and anything that has me outside and enjoying nature and just simply being outdoors!
What words do you live by?
Don’t be afraid to do you and ALWAYS do the things that make your soul soar and make you feel Free & Happy✨❣️✨
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and share with us what it was like to be one of the only female skaters growing up. We are inspired by you and fueled by your bold and courageous spirit. We so appreciate the path you carved for all of us females and we are honored to have you as a Skate Sister!
Laura Thornhill Bio -
Laura Thornhill Caswell grew up in Dallas Texas and was the consummate tomboy that did every team sport there was…and then discovered the love and wonder for the Skateboard the year before moving to Southern California in 1974.
She got her first skateboard for her thirteenth birthday and was quickly on a mission to become the best that she could be in a lifestyle that was pretty much dominated by guys.
She was soon recruited to be on the Logan Earth Ski Skateboard Team that was regarded one of the top three in 1975.
She soon became the very first female to be featured in “Skateboarder Magazine” considered the bible of skateboarding, with the very first female “Who’s Hot” and shortly thereafter became a regular in it’s pages. She also had several other “firsts” in the magazine by landing the first of two “Contents” pages for a female, the very first “Interview” for a female, the very first “Centerfold” for a female and also became the very first female to ever be honored with her own signature model skateboard. She competed regularly in contests and held several World Championship titles as well as being voted Skateboarder of the Year in Skateboarder Magazines very first Skater of the Year Poll… Tony Alva won first for the Males.
She was featured in many other publications as well, including “Sports Illustrated”, “Rolling Stone”, “Women’s Wear Daily”, “French Vogue”, and countless other magazines & books and movies & television shows. She is a true pioneer and legend in the world of skateboarding and still continues to ride today.
She was inducted into the “Skateboarding Hall Of Fame” in 2013 and also has her vintage, signature model skateboard on display at the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington DC.
She remains very active in the Skateboarding world and coproduces the Skateboarding Hall Of Fame Awards and is always there to root on the female rippers of today at all the different contests and events that are so popular today.